Checked
Wheeler County, OR
3 cities and towns and 3 ZIP codes in Wheeler County, Oregon.
Population
1,485
Land area
1,716sq mi
People per sq mi
1
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Wheeler County
Wheeler County at a glance
- Wheeler County is 98% less dense than Oregon as a whole.
- The median household income is $55,284, 33% below the Oregon median of $83,011.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $272,400 (43% below Oregon) and median rent is $870 a month.
- Its largest cities are Fossil (535), Mitchell (127) and Spray (89).
Local data for Wheeler County, OR
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Wheeler County, OR, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$55,284
Poverty rate
10.8%
Median home value
$272,400
Median rent
$870/mo
Homeownership
71.8%
Bachelor's or higher
18.8%
Median age
59.3
Average commute
24.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (236), German Americans (195), Scottish Americans (79).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.4%
Sep 2026, -1.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,100
352 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$52,470
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$33.5M
FY 2026, $23,057 per person
PPP loans
$882K
55 loans, 165 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$2,445
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Wheeler County, OR, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone66.3%
- Carpooled5.5%
- Public transit3.9%
- Walked4.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.2%
- Worked from home19.9%
Average one-way commute: 24.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Wheeler County, OR, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
315
Most often heavy snow
Flood insurance policies
7
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 26°F
13.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Wheeler County, OR, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.8%
U.S. 33.3% +2.5 pts
Diabetes
16.5%
U.S. 12.1% +4.4 pts
Smoking
14.1%
U.S. 12.8% +1.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.5%
U.S. 11.1% -2.6 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Wheeler County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Wheeler County, OR?
- Fossil is the largest city or town in Wheeler County, with about 535 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Wheeler County?
- Wheeler County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 97750, 97830, 97874.
- What is the population of Wheeler County, OR?
- About 1,485 people live in Wheeler County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Wheeler County?
- Wheeler County borders Wasco County, Crook County, Jefferson County, Morrow County, Grant County, Gilliam County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023